IDC: Tablet Shipments Decline as Consumers Await Updated iPad Models

Tablet shipments slip in Q2

Newly released data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) suggests that the lack of a new iPad model from Apple is the primary reason why tablet shipments declined in the second quarter of 2013. According to IDC's figures, worldwide tablet shipments "finally experienced a sequential decline," dropping 9.7 percent in the most recent quarter. At the same time, the 45.1 million tablets shipped in Q2 represents a 59.6 percent jump from the same quarter a year ago.

Apple shipped the most tablets in Q2, injecting 14.6 million additional units into the market place to claim a 32.4 percent share of the market, followed by Samsung in a distant second place with 8.1 million shipments and 18 percent stake. After the big two, the numbers drop off a cliff, with Asus having shipped 2 million units for a 4.5 percent share, followed by Lenovo (1.5 million, 3.3 percent) and Acer (1.4 million, 3.1 percent).

Even though Apple led all other tablet makers, iPad shipments were still lower than expected.

"A new iPad launch always piques consumer interest in the tablet category and traditionally that has helped both Apple and its competitors," said Tom Mainelli, Research Director, Tablets at IDC. "With no new iPads, the market slowed for many vendors, and that's likely to continue into the third quarter. However, by the fourth quarter we expect new products from Apple, Amazon, and others to drive impressive growth in the market."

Consider this the calm before the storm. Heading into the final quarter of the year, IDC expects new product launches from several players to have a big impact on shipments.

Comments

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OK, I got a tablet and as it is a full Win 8 tablet I can carry it with me everyplace and do most things on it including being able to create projects instead of just mostly being able to display them.
I totally disagree that the slowdown is because the I-Kiddies are waiting for the next one with a few slightly different features, the majority of tablets sold are not iPads anyway. I think that it is because most of us who want a tablet have now gotten one and have no need to get a new one every year or two. In fact my next computer will be a new DIY desktop build using the new processors, SSD's and GPU's out there.
Tablets are now a permanent part of the scene but I bet that the industry and the fanboi press better set their sights on far more reasonable sales numbers in the coming few years.

I got a 10" tablet in December (Toshiba), couldn't be happier. I used to carry my laptop around when I traveled, but now I carry my tablet. Best purchase ever!

Now, I don't see the point on 7" tablets. They're not small enough to fit in your pocket, so carrying a 7" or a 10" still means a bag. My Galaxy S3 smartphone does everything the 7" does, and for quick browsing, email, tweets, it's just perfect. The 10" is better for movies, gaming and reading. The 7" is not much bigger than my smartphone and too small for movies.

Have to agree with Maverick on this one. Smart phones are getting better processors and better gaming graphics is on the way with the new processors. Tablets will be replaced by smart phones in my humble opinion. They were an endearing fad for a time, but that time seems to be coming to a close...finally. Now maybe Intel can get back to making desktop processors that make us all salivate :)

This analyst is so bias. Where in this article or his comments did he see a pattern from previous years that might indicate that? Who is this guy, really? Could it be that there are so many tablets to choose from and may be bigger smartphones could replace the need of an actual tablet? I still cant justify a table for myself.

Lets just entertain this analysis for a moment and pretend its true. If people and Apple fan-boys really are waiting for the next iPad and it fails to win their hearts and minds, then Apple is going to start declining. Because people will start realizing that Apple has lost what makes it great, innovation (or a shinier screen resolution, depends on target demographic).

My S3 is enough for me. Getting a tablet to do just the same stuff but in a slightly bigger screen is not a good reason to get a tablet, IMHO.

I think supply-side economics would suggest that tablets are here to stay, but for me it was just a fad/impulse-buy. Still not sure why I finally caved and bought one, probably just to throw a custom ROM on it. But I can think of cheaper ways to kill an evening.

"A new iPad launch always piques consumer interest in the tablet category and traditionally that has helped both Apple and its competitors," -- this dweeb talks like tablets have been around forever and he's got some useful insight. Sure you might get a small spike in demand, but what is the Ipad 4 really going to offer that will significantly affect demand? More shinies? He should quit swinging from Apple's nuts.